RABBIT DESTRUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 25037, 2 December 1943, Page 4

RABBIT DESTRUCTION

BRINGING PROSPERITY TO CENTRAL MINISTER IMPRESSED The Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour and Mines, who has just returned from a visit to Central Otago, wa.s enthusiastic about what he saw there when he made a statement to the 1 Star ' this morning. A few years ago when he visited Central, said Mr Webb, the country was over-run by rabbits, but to his amazement he had seen very few rabbits on his latest visit. Instead, he had seen a much-improved countryside, and he was satisfied that the improvement was the result of the extermination of the rabbit. As quickly as the rabbit disappeared there was an improvement in growth in the tussock and grass. If the present " killer " policy was continued he was confident that the eradication of the rabbit pest from Central Otago would be achieved. He could see a very prosperous place with the disappearance of the rabbit. Mr Webb also referred to the benefits of irrigation in Central Otago. On his visit he had seen strawberries growing in abundance, and he doubted if any other part of New Zealand could produce such fine fruit as he had seen. With the destruction of the rabbit and with up-to-date irrigation schemes Central Otago would offer one of the most attractive propositions in the post-war years to the Government. Further, there was no other place in New Zealand as healthy as Central. This morning, said the Minister, he met the Rabbitskin Committee and discussed with farmers, runholders, and rabbiters the question of the destruction of the pest. Members of the Lands and Agriculture Departments were also present. The consensus of opinion was that the subsidised killer policy scheme had been a great success. The rabbiters' view was that the subsidy should be pooled and contributed to in equal proportions by the Government, the rabbiters, and tho runholders. During the last two months—the subsidy period—the killings had been very considerably increased. The Minister said, he had personally thanked the committee for the excellent work it had done —and done on a purely voluntary basis.